[manimal]

My new comp i just built only has one IDE port which eliminates me from running my 2nd dvd drive because my HD is IDE and the IDE cable only has two connections. so i'd like to switch my HD to SATA to increase my HD speed and also to free up the IDE cable for my 2nd DVD drive.

so, here's my plan and my question.

i should be able to just install the sata HD and run the pc as usual and then make a ghost copy or something on the new drive and set the bios to boot from the sata drive after i remove the IDE drive right? (all of my old A+ stuff is still a fuzzy memory)
what is a good program to make an exact copy of my entire drive onto the sata drive?

 

[Dartman]

I really like Acronis Imaging software.

I'd use this

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/migrateeasy/

which is included in this...

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

There is a 15 day free trial on Migrate Easy which would get the job done for you. But I would get and use TrueImage to protect your data just in case. You could get an external USB enclosure for your old drive and use it to store your backup images.

Mike

 

[manimal]

I really like Acronis Imaging software.

I'd use this

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/migrateeasy/

which is included in this...

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

There is a 15 day free trial on Migrate Easy which would get the job done for you. But I would get and use TrueImage to protect your data just in case. You could get an external USB enclosure for your old drive and use it to store your backup images.

Mike

werd. i've already got a 320gb external drive, and i saw an IDE to USB cable that you can use to make an internal drive an external for about $15. i just need the case and it'll be golden thanks for the tip.

 

[Dartman]

werd. i've already got a 320gb external drive, and i saw an IDE to USB cable that you can use to make an internal drive an external for about $15. i just need the case and it'll be golden thanks for the tip.

Good luck. Let us know how it works out.

 

[deadatbirth]

theres also docks that allow the HD to plug into this port which includes power and usb to connect to the computer.